New research suggests that babies who are breastfed for the first three months of life are less likely to develop food allergies.

“A review of 18 studies demonstrates a significant protective effect of exclusive breast-feeding for at least three months for children with high risk for atopy (genetic tendency to develop allergic diseases) against the development of atopic dermatitis and early childhood asthma-like symptoms,” Dr. Robert Wood, international health director for pediatric allergy and immunology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, said in a prepared statement.

In fact, the research suggests several of allergy prevention strategies, including these:

* Women should avoid peanuts and tree nuts during pregnancy and while breast-feeding.
* Mothers should supplement breast-feeding with a hypoallergenic formula (extensively or partially hydrolyzed).
* Delay feeding these children solid foods until they’re six months old.
* Delay introduction of milk and egg until age 1 and peanut and tree nuts until age 3.
* Start early intervention when signs of food allergy appear (secondary prevention).

(I’m a little unclear as to whether the supplementing advice is for those who are already supplementing or is intended for all BFing moms.)

This article also notes that a child (anyone, really) may be allergic to one part of a food family, but not to the entire category (nuts, for example), and that physicians should look to food allergies as possible causes of skin and gastrointestinal issues in patients of all ages.

As if you needed another reason to breastfeed - but now you know!

Posted by Sunshining.